0.1 Mile

"0.1 Mile" is a documentary that explores the cultural divide in Provo, Utah. As the unofficial "capital" of LDS culture and a small town, Provo reveals a clear distinction between those who identify with the LDS faith and those who do not. It seems that beliefs heavily influence who we associate with and who we distance ourselves from. This complexity was difficult to capture in a traditional documentary format, so I took a poetic approach instead. Through abstraction and subjectivity, I aimed to convey a perspective rather than a conventional narrative.

Poetic documentaries have a unique ability to encapsulate a theme, almost like placing it inside a snow globe; using rhythm and tone to reduce complex topics into something more tangible. Instead of following a structured storyline, this documentary prioritizes experience and emotional response. Sound plays a crucial role, telling a story without narration. Initially, instrumental and ambient sounds immerse the viewer in two distinct locations: a bar and a church. At first, these sound ambiences are entirely different. However, as the documentary progresses, human sounds like crying, laughing, whistling, yawning begin to emerge, highlighting the similarities between both groups. What once felt like a defined divide gradually diminishes.

The film reaches a climax where all sounds blend into a kind of "white noise," leveling them so that the viewer can no longer distinguish which side they originate from. The final absence of imagery reinforces this idea, leaving only laughter. Whose laughter it is no longer matters. In the end, we are all human, more alike than we might assume.

The poetic mode also uses juxtaposition to evoke emotions and convey meaning. I chose to begin with a scene from The Simpsons and later reveal how it parallels with Provo, emphasizing the cultural division that exists even within a mere 0.1-mile radius. The film employs both contrasting sounds and abstract storytelling to communicate its point. Poetic documentaries are known for their rhythmic qualities, and this film follows a distinct rhythm, shifting from chaos to simplicity. The mood remains ironic, comedic, and lighthearted, encapsulating the issue in a way that makes it feel both digestible and universal, just as it aims to simplify how we perceive one another as human beings.